andy lang - ucc open and affirming coalition · 2. when a conversation affords opportunity for...

ANDY LANG

ONA EVANGELISM 101

openandaffirming.org/evangelism

[email protected]

IS YOUR CHURCH 100% ONA?

RECLAIMING EVANGELISM

What do you think when you hear the word ‘evangelism?’


What do you think when you hear the word ‘evangelism?’

▼Spiritual coercion?

▼Moral arrogance?

OR▼Sharing Good News?

▼Living with integrity and authenticity?

▼Choosing to be ‘out’ spiritually?


Evangelism = Coming Out

REACHING MILLENNIALS

BUT, ANDY, WON’T WE

BECOME A ‘GAY CHURCH’?


For most new ONA congregations, young

heterosexual adults who identify with the values ONA represents are the growing

edge (especially couples with children).


51

58

72

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Most Millennials support marriage equality

Evangelicals

Republicans

All Millennials


One-third of millennials say

they left churches because

of homophobic practices

and teachings.

(Source: Public Religion Research Institute, 2014)

ONA CHURCHES CAN GROW

172

232

0

50

100

150

200

250

ONA churches 34% more members than non-ONA

Non-ONA

ONA

ONA EVANGELISM DEFINED

Open and Affirming evangelism means being:

▼Present

▼Personal

▼Persistent

▼Public

BE PRESENT

Become a dependable presence in the LGBTQ community.

Use opportunities for daily engagement.

▼Visit the local LGBTQ community center:

1. Volunteer.

2. Offer financial support.

3. Ask about suicide prevention.

4. Ask about support groups for LGBTQ youth.

5. Ask about care for LGBTQ seniors.

BE PRESENT

Become a dependable presence in the LGBTQ community.

Use opportunities for daily engagement.

▼Connect with LGBTQ student alliances and the

ecumenical chaplaincy at local colleges. Make sure they

know you’re an Open and Affirming church.

▼Offer your church as a meeting place for LGBTQ

community organizations: PFLAG, AA, other recovery

groups.

▼ If you’re near a military base, LGBTQ service men and

women should know there are churches where they are

welcome.

BE PRESENT: MILITARY BASES

Source: United States Navy

USS New Mexico returns to home port: New London, Conn.


Dana Jensen/The Day, New London, Conn.

The Bergeron family greet their father and husband.


Dana Jensen/The Day, New London, Conn.

Molly Malone, now 8 months, gets reacquainted after her dad’s 6-month absence.


Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristina Young /U.S. Navy Photo

And a returning sailor, Jerrel, is surprised by Dylan’s marriage proposal.


This is the new normal!

(Where will this couple

marry? Do LGBT military

personnel in your community

know about you?)

BE PRESENT: OPPORTUNITIES

▼Transgender welcome

▼Safe space for LGBTQ youth

▼Care and advocacy for LGBTQ seniors

▼Care and advocacy for LGBTQ asylum-seekers

BE PRESENT: TRANSGENDER

Many Open and Affirming churches do not identify

transgender people in their covenant!

▼ Initiate a serious study of transgender issues.

▼Publicize your welcome to the transgender community.

▼Observe Transgender Day of Remembrance Nov. 20.

▼Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/transgender

BE PRESENT: YOUTH

▼Hold public and charter schools accountable to Federal

policies protecting LGBTQ youth from bullying.

▼With other welcoming churches, meet with your

superintendent of schools.

▼Post an “It Gets Better” video on YouTube, your home

page.

▼Ask a suicide-prevention expert to speak at your church.

▼Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/bullying.

BE PRESENT: LGBTQ SENIORS

▼With support from the LGBTQ community center, meet

with LGBTQ seniors and learn about their needs.

▼Work with other welcoming churches to demand

appropriate care and safety from public and private

institutions.

▼Organize a weekly social event and frequent outings for

LGBTQ seniors.

▼This can be a strong ministry for youth and seniors in

your congregation.

▼Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/seniors.

BE PRESENT: LGBT REFUGEES

▼ In at least 75 countries, “homosexual behavior” is

punishable by long prison terms or other penalties, and

authorities often refuse to protect their LGBTQ citizens

from physical assault and murder.

▼But LGBTQ asylum seekers usually find no support in

immigrant communities from their own country.

▼Churches can partner with local organizations to adopt

and shelter refugees.

▼Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/international.

BE PRESENT: ADVOCACY

We’ve won marriage

equality, so there’s nothing

left to advocate for, right?


Source: ACLU

Gray states (28): no statewide protection against LGBT discrimination


▼Job and housing discrimination

▼Hate crimes

▼Bullying

▼LGBTQ seniors

▼LGBTQ asylum-seekers

▼Religious exemption laws: “Plan B” for the movement

against marriage equality. Where these laws succeed,

private business owners and public officials can claim a

right to discriminate based on religious belief.

BE PRESENT: IN A CRISIS

PRESENCE ALSO MEANS

YOUR CHURCH IS PREPARED

FOR RAPID RESPONSE WHEN

THERE’S A CRISIS!

BE PERSONAL: EVANGELISM

You have a story to tell!


Evangelism = Coming Out


▼Teachable moments:

1. When you hear a homophobic remark.

2. When a conversation affords opportunity for

witness.

▼ Carry a business card or postcard wherever you go with

your church’s street address, website and Facebook

page, phone number, service schedule, welcome

message—and a rainbow comma!

▼ Wear a rainbow comma pin! It’s a great conversation-

starter!

BE PERSISTENT AND PUBLIC

Your Open and Affirming

covenant is the starting

point, not the endpoint, for

your outreach to the

LGBTQ community.


Keep the momentum going!

▼Show up at the annual Pride Parade and carry a big sign.

▼Observe Pride Sunday with a renewal of your Open and

Affirming covenant, and publicize the event in

newspapers, community bulletin boards, LGBTQ media.

▼Design an eye-catching brochure that proclaims your

welcome. Share it with visitors and distribute it at LGBTQ

events. Keep it in stock at the LGBTQ community center,

public libraries, coffee shops, college campuses.

▼Post a rainbow comma on your home page.


Keep the momentum going!

▼Display a big rainbow comma on your church sign;.

▼Display a rainbow flag or banner at the entrance of your

church.


Weddings, Weddings!!!


Many LGBTQ couples aren’t

just looking for a pretty

church for a wedding: they’re

also returning to church after

an absence of years. Will you

be their new church home?


Lesbian and gay couples won’t know your church welcomes

same-sex weddings if you don’t publicize

▼on your website and Facebook page.

▼ in local newspapers and news websites.

▼ in local LGBTQ media.

▼ in the LGBTQ community center (brochures).

OTHER RESOURCES

▼The Coalition website, email newsletter, Facebook page

▼UCC Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy

▼Stillspeaking 2.0 Social Media Toolkit

▼ Institute for Welcoming Resources

openandaffirming.org/evangelism

openandaffirming.org/subscribe

facebook.com/ucc.coalition

ucc.org/lgbt

ucc.org/stillspeaking_toolkit

welcomingresources.org

OTHER RESOURCES

YOU, AND OTHER

MEMBERS OF YOUR

CONGREGATION!

IS YOUR CHURCH 100% ONA?

andy lang - ucc open and affirming coalition · 2. when a conversation affords opportunity for...

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